ORLANDO, FL - Florida Atlantic University extended its season-long winning streak to four games with a 79-72 win over Central Florida Wednesday in Orlando, FL. Tamica Pierce led FAU with 18 points as the Lady Owls built an 18-point lead at the half and held off a furious UCF rally down the stretch. FAU improved to 10-9 overall and 8-3 in the Atlantic Sun Conference.

FAU opened up the game with a 16-4 lead before UCF countered with a 11-2 run to pull to within 18-15. The Lady Owls, however, had answers for each UCF rally in the first half. The most damaging run by FAU came at the end of the half in th form of an 11-0 run that increased a seven-point lead to a 47-29 advantage heading to the locker room.

UCF (10-10, 6-5 A-Sun) cut the deficit down to 76-72 with less than a minute to go before a pair of free throws by Chantale Jones with 22 seconds remaining gave FAU a 78-72 lead. Pierce added another free throw to account for the final score.

Angie Rodgers scored a career-high 13 points for the Lady Owls after getting her first career start. Kristy Halvorsen added 12 points while Jones chipped in nine.

FAU was helped by a season-high nine three-pointers as they handed UCF their fourth straight loss. With the win, FAU moved into a tie for second place in the A-Sun, one half game behind Belmont.